Stick-type applicator construction



3, 1968 M. J. HARRISON 3,397,027

STICK-TYPE APPLICATOR CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 25, 1966 50 56 l 60 I 514o 525 I I R if 12 4?. 4 42 l 50 n 50E H 14 Z2 I 10 26 I zZ- Z4 10 22 IINVENTOR Mortimer J. Harrison United States Patent 3,397,027 STICK-TYPEAPPLICATOR CONSTRUCTION Mortimer J. Harrison, Santurce, Puerto Rico,assignor to Valve Corporation of America, Bridgeport, Conn., acorporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 25, 1966, Ser. No. 522,857 13 Claims.(Cl. 401-50) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An applicator construction forsolidified stick-shape perfumed deodorant material of the like,comprising a tubular container having a removable screw cap providedwith an interior configuration which is desired on the end of the stickmaterial. The cap has a filling opening for engagement by a fillingnozzle to deposit molten stick material in the container so that thematerial solidifies with an end shape conforming to said interiorconfiguration. A closure plug is adapted to close the filling opening ofthe cap after the filling operation.

This invention relates to applicator-stick devices, and moreparticularly to the holder and dispenser structures of such devices.

In my copending patent application, Ser. No. 507,875 filed November 15,1965, and entitled Method of Producing Stick-Type Applicator, there isdisclosed a unique process for filling a dispensing container of thekind having a screw cap, wherein the viscous molten stick material isinjected into the container through an opening in the cap while thelatter is carried by the container.

The present invention solves the problem resulting from over filling oroverspill in this type of dispenser construction, when and if thisshould occur during filling through the aperture in the screw cap.

Accordingly an object of the invention is to provide an improved holderand dispenser structure wherein filling is effected through the screwcap, which structure provides space to take care of overspill andeliminates the messiness caused by over-filling, thereby alsoelimimating the necessity for holding the filling charge to closevolumetric tolerances.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved holder anddispenser structure as above set forth, which stores and conceals anyoverspill which might occur, thereby eliminating clean-up operationsnormally due to overfilling.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an im proved holder anddispenser structure as above characterized, which may be economicallymolded of plastic substance in simple, inexpensive molds, which may beeasily and quickly assembled, which is small, compact, reliable andfoolproof in functioning, and which imparts a desired uniformconfiguration to the initially projecting portion of the stick material.

A feature of the invention resides in the provision of dual-plug orstopper means constituting part of the assemblage of the screw cap,which means simultaneously closes each of two axial openings of the capbody after the filling operation, one portion of such meanssimultaneously constituting the top wall of the cap body and enablingmulti-color ornamentation and interchangeable name data to be readilyutilized.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an axial sectional view showing a filled container ready foruse and having a stick or bar substance such as a deodorant stick.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a filled container of FIG. 1.

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FIG. 3 is an axial sectional view of the container and ffileassembledscrew cap body, in the process of being FIG. 4 is an exploded view ofthe container, showing the latter in section and with the screw capremoved, and further illustrating the advance or projection of thedeodorant stick after it has been through a period of use and has becomeshorter.

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of a closure member for the screw cap, asused in FIG. 1.

Referring now to FIGS. l-4, there is illustrated a tubular container 10which may be fabricated economically of plastic substance, saidcontainer having a cylindrical wall 11 and at its upper end externalscrew threads 12 disposed on a neck portion 14 which adjoins an annularexterior shoulder 16.

At its bottom end, the container 10 has an inner annular retainer flange18 which defines a relatively large finger opening 20.

Adjoining the flange 18 is a manually operable plastic plunger 22 havingan annular peripheral portion 24 engaged with the inner cylindricalsurface of the container 10, said peripheral portion having a circularrelief groove 26.

The plunger 22 has a socket or seat 28, in which one end of the stickdeodorant material 30 is received.

In accordance with the present invention, a novel and improved plasticclosure or screw cap assemblage 32 is provided, adapted to be carried bythe upper end of the container 10 and to be unscrewed and removed whenthe deodorant stick is placed in use, said closure being especiallyorganized to receive and contain any overflow which may occur from thefilling process, and enabling such filling process to be effectedthrough the bore of the screw cap.

As seen in FIG. 1, the screw cap 32 comprises essentially a cylindricalbody portion 34 having a domed transverse apertured wall 36, and aseparate plastic closure plug member designated generally by the numeral38.

The body portion 32 has a bottom rim 40 of slightly enlarged diameter,having internal screw threads 42 which are cooperable with the externalthreads 12 of the container 10 for the purposes of removably carryingthe screw cap on the container.

The transverse wall 36 of the screw cap is preferably of partiallyspherical shape, having a central filling opening 44 and an upstandingcollar portion 46 adapted to receive the tip of a filling nozzle 48. Thenozzle 48 may have the usual air vent opening 50 to provide for egressof air during the filling of the container 10 with the melted deodorantstick substance.

At its upper end, the cap body portion 32 has an internal annularshoulder 52 which is arranged to be engaged by a closure disk 54 0f theclosure plug 38. Preferably also, the closure plug 38 includes adepending tapered separate stub 56 which is adapted to be received inthe collar 46 of the transverse wall 36.

It will be understood that the closure plug 38 is initially removed fromthe cap body portion 34 for the purpose of admitting the filling nozzle48 by which the deodorant stick material 30 is injected into thecontainer 10'. Said stick material during the filling is in a heated,molten state, and as seen in FIG. 3 a predetermined charge of suchmaterial may be injected in the container 10 with the screw cap body 34in place, that is, screwed onto the container 10.

During the filling operation any slight excess material, such as thatindicated at 58 in FIG. 3, may be contained and carried by the upperchamber area 60 of the screw cap body 34.

After filling, and upon removal of the filling nozzle 48,

the closure plug 38 is merely applied to the screw cap body 34 of thefilled container, such closure plug having a press-fit by virtue ofslight interference dimensions in the diameters. The depending stub 56of the plug may have a tight press-fit in the collar 46 and also theclosure disk 54 may have a tight press-fit in the top rim of the capbody 34. If desired, a suitable cement may be employed in addition tothe press-fit, or a sonic-welding procedure may be used to join the disk54 to the side walls of the cap body 34. However, under normalconditions of use, the stated press-fit is satisfactory withoutadditional securing means, since in the use of the article there are noforces tending to dislodge the closure plug 38.

After filling of the container 10 and applying of the closure plug 38,the article is ready for distribution and sale. The consumer, in placingthe article in use, merely unscrews the screw cap assemblage 32 andapplies the rounded end of the deodorant stick material 30 to thedesired areas of the body. After continued use, the wear or consumptionof the stick material is compensated for, by advancing the stick withfinger pressure on the bottom plunger member 22, in the mannerillustrated in FIG. 4, to advance the deodorant stick.

It will be understood from the foregoing that I have provided a noveland improved screw cap closure assemblage in combination with acontainer intended to be filled with viscous deodorant stick material,whereby the screw cap supplies a storage space for accommodating aslight amount of overfill of the material. The container is filled bythe use of a filling nozzle applied to as to force the,

deodorant substance through a central opening in the screw cap, andafter filling of the container and removal of the filling nozzle, thefilling opening in the screw cap is closed and concealed by a plugmember subsequently applied. The ultimate appearance of the screw cap isthus that of a solid object without filling openings, as may now beunderstood.

The provision of the upper chamber space 60 in the screw cap body 34constitutes an advantageous feature, since it eliminates the presence ofexcess filling material at the filling station, which might otherwisecause a messy and undesirable condition.

The rounded shape of the wall 36 is imparted to the stick material 30,which becomes evidenced when the screw cap is first removed for use.

The plug 54 may have name indicia, and different brands may be indicatedby the use of different plugs. Also, the plug 54 may have a contrastingcolor.

If the cap body 34 has an aging shrinkage which is slightly greater thanthat of the plug 54, the tight press-fit will be maintained.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claims,and portions of the improvement may be used without others.

I claim:

1. A stick-type applicator construction comprising, in combination:

(a) a tubular container constituted as a cylindrical mold part andadapted to contain stick deodorant material or the like, said containerhaving an open cylindrical end from which the stick material canproject, and having fastening means at and rigid with said cylindricalend for securing a cap thereto, said container being constituted of aone-piece cylindrical wall devoid of openings in said wall through whicha molten molding substance could flow, and being constituted further ofan imperforate tight-fitting slidable end plug remote from saidopen-end, said molding substance being halted when it impinges said endp (b) a cap assemblage comprising:

(1) a tubular open-ended cap body constituted as a mold part and havingmeans at one end which are cooperable with said fastening means that isrigid on said cylindrical end, to releasably secure the cap body to thecontainer,

(2) said cap body having an apertured interior a transverse wallprovided with a configuration which is desired on the end of the stickmaterial, and the aperture of the wall constituting a filling openingadapted for engagement by a filling nozzle, and

(3) a plug structure attachable to said cap body and having portionswhich close the aperture of the transverse wall thereof,

(4) means for securing the plug structure to said cap body.

2. A stick-type applicator as in claim 1, wherein:

(a) said interior transverse wall is disposed substantially midwaybetween the ends of the cap body, (b) said plug structure beingreceivable in the cap body and having a portion which closes the otherend of the cap body simultaneously with the plug structure closing thefilling aperture.

3. A stick-type applicator as in claim 2, wherein:

(a) the portion of the plug structure which closes the other end of thecap body is commensurate in size with said body and constitutes the topwall of the cap assemblage.

4. A stick-type applicator as in claim 2, wherein:

(a) said plug structure comprises a substantially fiat disk portionwhich closes the end of the cap body and constitutes the top wallthereof, and further comprises a stub depending from said disk andclosing flush the aperture of the transverse wall.

5. A stick-type applicator as in claim 4, wherein:

(a) said other end of the cap body has an annular internal shoulderagainst which the said disk portion is press-fitted.

6. A stick-type applicator as in claim 5, wherein:

(a) said disk portion and stub are constituted as separate inter-fittingpieces which are inseparably fastened together.

7. A stick-type applicator as in claim 1 wherein:

(a) said cap body has a chamber between said other end and saidtransverse wall, for catching and storing spillage from the filling ofthe container through the transverse wall by the filling nozzle.

8. A stick-type applicator as in claim 7, wherein:

(a) said storage chamber has areas located below the level of thefilling aperture in the transverse wall, to catch and store saidspillage.

9. A stick-type applicator as in claim 8, wherein:

(a) said transverse interior wall has a partially spherical shapebulging upward, thereby to impart a spherically rounded configuration tothe stick material.

10. A stick-type applicator as in claim 1, wherein:

(a) said transverse interior wall has a partially spherical shapebulging upward, thereby to impart a spherically rounded configuration tothe stick material.

11. A stick-type applicator construction comprising, in

combination:

(a) a tubular container adapted to contain stick deodorant material orthe like, said container having an open end from which the stickmaterial can project, and having fastening means at said end forsecuring a cap thereto,

(b) a cap assemblage comprising:

(1) a tubular open-ended cap body having means at one end which arecooperable with said fastening means to releasably secure the cap bodyto the container,

(2) said cap body having an apertured interior transverse wall providedwith a configuration which is desired on the end of the stick material,and the aperture of the wall constituting a filling opening adapted forengagement by a filling nozzle, and

(3) a plug structure attachable to said cap body and having portionswhich close the aperture of the transverse wall thereof,

(4) means for securing the plug structure to said cap body,

(c) said interior transverse wall being disposed intermediate the endsof the cap body,

(d) said plug structure being receivable in the cap body and having aportion which closes the other end of the cap body simultaneously withthe plug structure closing the filling aperture,

(e) said transverse interior wall having a partially spherical shapebulging upward, thereby to impart a spherically rounded configuration tothe stick material.

12. A stick-type applicator construction comprising, in

combination:

(a) a tubular container adapted to contain stick deodorant material orthe like, said container having an open end from which the stickmaterial can project, and having fastening means at said end forsecuring a cap thereto,

(b) a cap assemblage comprising:

(1) a tubular open-ended cap body having means at one end which arecooperable with said fastening means to releasably secure the cap bodyto the container,

(2) said cap body having an apertured interior transverse wall providedwith a configuration which is desired on the end of the stick material,and the aperture of the wall constituting a filling opening adapted forengagement by a filling nozzle, and

(3) a plug structure attachable to said cap body and having portionswhich close the aperture of the transverse wall thereof,

(4) means for securing the plug structure to said cap body,

(c) said interior transverse wall being disposed intermediate the endsof the cap body,

((1) said plug structure being receivable in the cap body and having aportion which closes the other end of the cap body simultaneously withthe plug structure closing the filling aperture,

(e) said cap body having a chamber between said other end and saidtransverse wall, for catching and storing spillage from the filling ofthe container through the transverse wall by the filling nozzle,

(f) said storage chamber having areas located below the level of thefilling aperture in the transverse wall, to catch and store saidspillage.

13. A stick-type applicator as in claim 12, wherein:

(a) said transverse interior wall has a partially spherical shapebulging upward, thereby to impart a spherically rounded configuration tothe stick material.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 429,040 5/ 1890 Lum 206--56758,234 4/1904 Bardin 206-56 2,879,548 3/1959 Croce et a1. 3,338,4588/1967 Hultgren mwuufln 206-56 X MARTHA L. RICE, Primary Examiner.

